Sabaidee ! Bienvenue à Sep Lai ! Nous servons de la nourriture traditionnelle laotienne en utilisant de nombreux ingrédients locaux pour créer des plats uniques et authentiques. Comme c'est la norme au Laos, tous nos plats sont faits pour être partagés ! Bien que vous puissiez trouver des similitudes avec d'autres plats d'Asie du Sud-Est tels que les plats thaïlandais ou vietnamiens, la cuisine laotienne est une cuisine distincte avec ses propres saveurs complexes et excitantes. Pleine d'herbes fraîches, de légumes crus, de viandes savoureuses et toujours accompagnée d'un panier de riz gluant, nous sommes fiers de partager cette cuisine avec tout le monde, y compris les végétaliens, les végétariens et les personnes sensibles au gluten ! Nous espérons que les plats de nos parents et de nos grands-parents vous inspireront le même réconfort et la même joie qu'à nous, et que vous vous exclamerez : "Sep lai ! C'était délicieux !"
Détails
Nos Spécialités
Rouleaux de printemps, rouleaux impériaux, soupe Khao Poon, salade de papaye, Laap, Som Pak, hamburger Lao & soupe aux nouilles de melon d'hiver.
Sep Lai est largement reconnu comme un petit bijou de quartier chaleureux et accueillant, idéalement situé près du métro Charlevoix, et apprécié pour sa cuisine laotienne authentique ainsi que son atmosphère charmante. De nombreux clients soulignent la fraîcheur et la richesse des saveurs des plats à partager, notamment le menu dégustation, la salade de papaye et les soupes signatures, tout en saluant les excellentes options végétaliennes et sans gluten adaptées aux besoins de chacun. La jolie terrasse arrière est souvent citée comme un atout majeur, offrant un cadre paisible et enchanteur pour les repas estivaux. Bien que les avis sur le service et l'assaisonnement puissent varier, la majorité des visiteurs apprécient l'accueil attentionné du personnel et le concept du apportez votre vin, faisant de cet endroit une adresse régulièrement recommandée pour des soirées en tête-à-tête, des sorties de groupe ou des repas en famille.
What an amazing experience! At first I wasn't sure what to eat since I don't like fish sauce, but then I found out they can make most of the dishes without it upon request! Many of the dishes can be made vegan as well. The terasse is cozy & magical, & the food is so fresh & flavourful! This has quickly become one of my favourite restaurants. Highly recommend! ❤?
A delight to eat at this restaurant. The food is unique, fresh & flavorful. The servers were friendly, helpful & attentive. A wonderful experience we'll repeat often.
If you are looking for an incredible introduction to authentic Laotian cuisine in Montreal, the family-style tasting menu at Sep Lai in Pointe-Saint-Charles is an absolute steal at $54 a person. The pacing splits the meal into beautifully balanced stages, prioritizing fresh herbs, bright acids, & complex textures over standard takeout tropes.
Fried Rolls with Vegetables: Crisply fried wrappers with a savory vegetable filling, made even better by the signature, tangy Dao sauce. A good start to a great meal ahead.
Broth Khao Poon: A standout comfort bowl. The red curry & coconut milk broth manages to be incredibly rich & aromatic without feeling heavy. So much flavour bringing us back to our Tom yums we got in Thailand.
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Tam Mak Houng (Papaya Salad): Bracingly vibrant, funky, & packing a sharp, spicy punch. It cuts beautifully through the richer items on the table.
The Chicken Laap: A beautiful execution of the national dish of Laos. It is incredibly fresh, finely minced, & heavily perfumed with fresh Laotian Herbs. So freaking good & light!
Nem Khao (Crispy Rice with Pork Sausages): A textures-driven masterpiece. The crunch of the seasoned rice mixed with the savory, sour pork sausage creates the ultimate bite.
Sai Oua Balls: Perfectly spiced lemongrass porkballs. The herbal notes shine through, especially when dunked in the accompanying jeow som (a sour, spicy dipping sauce). One of the favourite of the meal.
Ping Kai: Simple but flawlessly executed grilled chicken skewers. They arrive juicy, smoky from the grill, & are served with a savory jeow for dipping.
We also got the giant shrimp Mok PA! So delicious, perfectly cooked & tender & accompanied with that herbaceous sauce!
The Verdict: For $54, this is easily one of the best-valued tasting menus in the city. Because Sep Lai is a cozy, intimate spot, the food feels deeply personal & home-cooked, offering a massive variety of bold Southeast Asian flavors without breaking the bank.
Wow! What a little gem of a place.
Right by Charlevoix metro, it's super accessible either by public transit or by cycling from the nearby canal bike path.
We decided to order the tasting menu for 2, which had most of the items we wanted anyways. Plus, our server modified some items for similar ones that we preferred!
The spring rolls were incredibly fresh & tasty, & the peanut butter sauce was pure goodness. Same thing for the soup!
I'd say it's not the ideal place for vegetarians as there's a lot of fish & oyster sauce in most of the meals, but it's perfect for pescatarians.
They also use local mushrooms & shrimps from Gaspesie.
The mini crème brûlée was the perfect ending to the night.
They're a shared-table style of restaurant, but the tables are very big so you wouldn't feel much different than at regular tables that are close to each other.
I can't wait to come back for the terrasse!
We were really looking forward to trying Sep Lai for authentic Lao food, but unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. Every dish we ordered was dominated by an overwhelming artificial lime flavor that tasted anything but authentic.
The sai oua (Lao sausage) was far too salty, & both the papaya salad & mango salad were nearly inedible. The nem khao & laab gai (chicken) didn't fare any better. In fact, we barely finished the dishes we ordered - which says a lot.
When a place advertises as authentic, you expect freshness & balance, but this was the opposite. I do not recommend Sep Lai & will not be back.
